Vehicle-axle



(No Model.)

D. A. BROWN. VEHICLE AXLE.

No. 582,806. Patented May 18, 1897.

UNITED STATES ATENT FFICEQ DAVID ARTHUR BROWN, OF PENACOOK, NEWHAMPSHIRE.

VEHICLE-AXLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,806, dated May 18,1897.

Application filed January 15, 1897. Serial No. 619,316. (No model.)

To all whom, it nutty concern:

Beit known that 1, DAVID ARTH UR'BRowN, of Penacook, county of Merrimacand State of New Hampshire, have invented an Improvement inVehicle-Axles, of which the following description, in connection withthe accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and figureson the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object the production of a novelroller-bearing axle for vehicles of very simple, strong, and efficientconstruction, whereby the number of parts is greatly reduced, thefriction decreased, and the end thrust of the axle box or hub providedfor.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a roller-bearing axleembodying my invention. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view thereof onthe line a: x,Fig. 1, looking toward the right; and Fig. 3 is a viewsimilarto Fig. 1, but showing a metal wheel-hub in the place of the boxshown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the spindle A of the axle is shown asoutwardly tapering between two cylindrical bearing portions a and a, theinner bearing a being preferably somewhat larger in diameter. A flangeA, of substantially usual construction, is secured to or forms part ofthe axle at the inner end of the spindle, the outer face of the flangebeing released to leave an overhanging annular lip a In Fig. 1 the axleskein or box B is shown as having internal annular shoulders I) 1),preferably concaved at their sides nearest the ends of the spindle,respectively, said shoulders being nearer together than the inner endsof the bearing-surfaces a and a. The skein is interiorly threaded at itsends at Z) W, to receive threaded retaining-rings c and respectively,the inner circumferences of said rings fitting snugly but not tightlythe bearing-surfaces of the spindle. The innermost face of each ring isconcaved annularly, and between each ring and the shoulder of the skeinnearest thereto are interposed a series of cylindrical hardened-steelrolls '1" r, respectively, rounded or semispherical at their ends, tofit into the concavities of the shoulders and retaining members orrings, the latter serving to adjust the rolls. A washer w, of felt orsimilar material, is interposed between the ring 0 and the flange A ofthe axle, the inner end of the skein entering snugly within the annularlip a the washer effectually preventing the entrance of dust or dirt tothe adjacent bearing.

The outer end of the spindle A is screwthreaded at A to receive alock-nut N, having an inturned annular flange n to surround the outerend of the skein, while a dust-excluding felt or other suitable washer wis held between the retaining-ring r and the inner face of the nut. Ihave shown the nut N as partially cut or split across at n, and alock-screw M is threaded into the inner part of the open side of the nutand rotatable in the outer part. The nut having been adj usted, thescrew 01 is tightened, crowding the two parts of the nut together andlocking it on the spindle. It will be noticed that the ends of the skeinB bear upon the flange A and upon the inner face of the nut N, so thatwhen the latter is adjusted all longitudinal play of the skein isprevented and the end thrust taken up. The rollers 4- r roll upon thecylindrical bearing-surfaces a a of the spindle, and the adjacentportions of the skein travel upon the rollers. The interior of the skeinis hollowed out or enlarged, as at B to form a grease-receptacle, thelubricant being supplied to the bearings as needed through the annularspaces 3 4, formed between the shoulders I) b and the spindle, it beingnoted that the rollers project slightly beyond the bearing-surfaces forthis purpose.

It will be obvious that the parts of the axlebearing described maybereadily taken apart and replaced, the skein retaining the rollers whenthe spindle is withdrawn, that the parts are few in number, strong, andnot liable to get out of order.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the skein D as very similar to the skein B in itsmain construction, it being provided with the internal roller-guidingshoulders at and d; but as the skein forms the hub of the wheel it isprovided with an annular flange D, forming a spoke-support andcooperating with a removable flange member D formed on a boss D whichfits over the outer end of the skein, suitable bolts D securing theflanges together and holding the spokes S in place. In Fig.

3 the outer end of the skein D is threaded externallyat (V to receive acap E, which fits over the lock-nut N, the latter having no internalannular flange, as shown in Fig. 1. The base of the cap F is preferablyenlarged at f to form an end bearing for the boss D if desired. Theskein D is hollowed out at D to form a receptacle for lubricatingmaterial, entrance thereto being had through a duct (Z closed by athreaded plug (1". In Fig. 3 the inner end of the skein is shown asannularly recessed to receive the lip ta of the axle-flange A.

Having fully described lnyinvention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patcut, is-

1. An axle-spindle provided with bearingsnrfaces, a removable one-pieceskein or box having internal, annularly-recessed shoulders, andinternally threaded beyond said shoulders, threaded retaining membersannularly recessed on their faces nearest said shoulders, and adjustablyheld in the internallythreaded portions of the skein, a series ofantifriction-rolls held between said shoulders and adjustable retainingmembers, and traveling on the bearing-surfaces of the spindle, and

means to prevent longitudinal movementof the skcin on the spindle,substantially as described.

2. An axle-spindle having a flange at its inner end, and separatedbearing-surfaces near its ends, a one-piece skein or box interiorlythreaded at its ends and recessed to form roll-seats, threadedretaining-rings adjustably secured in the threaded portions of theslcein, outside of the seats, antifrictionrolls held by said members inthe skein and adapted to travel on the bearing-surfaces of the spindle,a washer adjacent the outer face of each retaining member, and alocking-nut adjustably mounted on the outer end of the spindle, tocooperate with the flange 011 the inner end of the latter and preventlongitudinal movement of the skein, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

DAVID ARTHUR BROWN.

'itnesscs:

EDMUND ll. BROWN, LORENZO M. CURRIER.

